Craps Strategy Guide – Discover The Top Craps Strategies

Craps has been enjoyed for well over 600 years and is a game of luck based on the outcome of the throw of a dice. While this sounds simple enough, you can adopt different bets and strategies to try and improve your chances of winning.

Here at Fruity King, we love nothing more than the camaraderie of casino games and trying to discover the secrets of the most popular titles. In this guide, we offer the best strategies used in craps today!

Craps Strategy No 1: Learn the Fundamentals

Before embarking on any new online casino adventure, it’s important to understand the game in question.

Let’s take a look at the layout of the craps table:

• A craps board has 2 identical side areas and a centre section
• The sides are out of bounds to players and will each be looked after by a ‘standing dealer’
• The centre area is taken care of by the ‘stickman’. Taken from land-based casinos – this is the person holding the stick, responsible for moving the dice around the table
• The only section you need to think about or bet on is your side, and the middle ‘apron’

Now, see a quick explanation of how the game is played:

• • The game starts with the ‘shooter’ who throws the ‘come out’ – this refers to the first dice rolled
  • In online craps this is usually a ‘roll’ button
  • Next, you must bet on the outcome – of which there are three possible
  • Natural: If you roll a 7 or 11 you are a winner and can roll again
  • Craps: You roll a 2, 3, or 12. This is also referred to as ‘snake eyes’ and unfortunately means you lose – but are allowed to roll again
  • Point: You land a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 – in this scenario a ‘point’ is created on the relevant number you landed on. In an online game this is usually a white ‘ON’ button
  • Next, you will throw the dice again and try to land the same number to win. The combination of numbers does not have to be the same as the last

That’s the fundamentals of craps – the end goal is for you to predict the result of the rolling of the dice correctly!

Craps Strategy No 2:  Learn the Best Bets

Now that you know what might happen when you or another player rolls the dice, we can move onto the craps strategy of learning the available bets.

See below some of the most commonly wagered bets when playing craps:

• Pass the Line: If you believe the shooter is going to either win before sevening out, or will land a natural – you will win with this one
• Don’t Pass the Line: This is the opposite, insofar that you think the shooter is going to fail to throw a point before landing a 7. This can also mean you believe the player will land  2 or 3. Please note that both pass the line and don’t pass bets are only allowed prior to the point being rolled
• Come Bet: When the aforementioned point has been established you can place a come bet or a don’t come bet. If you go for a come bet and the dice roll result is craps, you lose. If the result is a natural – this wager wins
• Don’t Come Bet: If the shooter lands a 2 or a 3 you win. If the player rolls a 7 or 11 you lose. A number 12 is a push
• The Big 6: You will wager on the big 6 if you think the 6 is going to be rolled prior to the 7 – if the opposite happens and the 7 is rolled – you lose
• The Big 8: This means that you suspect the 8 will be rolled before the 7 – if the 8 lands – you lose

Furthermore, the middle of the craps table is where the positional bets are:

• • The Horn: A 2,3,11, or 12 is rolled
  • Boxcars: A 12 is thrown
  • Any Seven: A 7 is thrown – this can be a combination such as a 4 and a 3, or a 6 and a 1 for instance
  • Any Craps: Also referred to as a three way – the shooter will roll a 2, 3, or 12

Notably, come and don’t come bets will remain in place until they play out. You may also wager on additional outcomes with this approach

Craps Strategy No 3: Be Realistic With Your Bankroll

This craps strategy is invaluable. Here at Fruity King, we believe that the best way to keep online gameplay enjoyable is to be realistic with your bankroll. You don’t need a huge budget to have a good time playing games of chance, but it can be easy to get carried away.

To save yourself from chasing that big win and allocating more than you can afford – think about how much you might be able to spend on craps and don’t go over that amount. A good example of this is considering your monthly casino limit and splitting this between the days you like to play online.

For instance, if you have £160 per month to allocate and like to play twice per week, you wouldn’t go beyond £20 per session. Some craps games require a minimum wager of just £1 per game. You should also look out for variants of craps with bonuses thrown in.

Craps Strategy No 4: Watch out for Minimum and Maximum Bets

The first thing to note about this particular craps strategy is that minimum wagers do not usually apply to the proposition mentioned above bets.

So, what is meant by minimum and maximum bets?

• Each craps table will have a minimum bet in place. This is the smallest amount you can wager on the pass, don’t pass, big 6 or 8, and field. In most cases, this is a figure like £5 or £10
• The maximum bet is the most you can wager. This might be, say £1,000, and only usually applies to the above bets

As such, if you find a craps game you want to play, you will need to check what limits and minimums are in place. As we touched on, proposition bets usually allow you to play with smaller amounts – but remember the house edge will be lower.

Craps Strategy No 5: Pass Line and Come – With Free Odds

Another popular craps strategy is to opt for the bets with the lowest house edge.

• A pass line has a low house edge of 1.41%, meaning for every £100 you should theoretically only lose £1.41. This is across millions of independent gameplays, however.
• The come bet also has a house edge of just 1.41%
• If a pass, don’t pass, come, or don’t come bet lands on a number – a free odds bet can be made – at this point, you can wager more without increasing the house edge.

The maximum bet will not apply to the free odds wager. So, let’s say the table has a max bet of £1,000. Once you’ve bet this on a flat bet, you could still play an additional £500 (for example)  – provided your point has been confirmed.

Craps Strategy Guide: To Conclude

There you have – the ultimate guide on craps strategy. To conclude – no 100% guarantee using a system will help you win craps. After all, it is an ancient game based on chance and winning depends on you correctly predicting a random throw of two dice.

With that said, there is no harm in trying out a craps strategy to see what is suited to you. Many beginners stick to a casino budget and go for the bets with the lowest house edge. By doing this, you might stand a better chance of having a great time at the craps table without risking too much.

FAQs

What is the best strategy for craps?

The best strategy for craps is to play the table minimum and start with a pass bet. When the point has been confirmed, you might decide to wager a free odds bet within your risk parameters. Another commonly used system is to stick to a predetermined casino budget.

What is the safest bet when playing craps?

The pass bet has the lowest house edge (1.41%) so it is widely considered to be the safest. If you opt for this approach and a 7 or 11 is rolled – you win.

How do you win at craps every time?

There is no guaranteed way to win at craps every time. After all, this is a game of chance and relies upon you correctly predicting two rolled dice outcomes.

What is a minimum bet in craps?

A minimum bet in craps is the smallest denomination you are allowed to wager on the pass line, don’t pass line, and big 6 or 8. This can vary by a mile but the lowest is usually £1 but can go up to £50 in some cases.

How much money do I need to play craps?

The amount you need to play craps depends on the game or variant. In most cases, you can play this popular table game for £1, or in some cases less.